Life-preserver for aviators.



A. G. ULMER.

LIFE PBESEBVER FOR AVIATORS.

APYLIUATION IILED saw. 14, 1910.

982,907. Patented Jan. 31, 1911.

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' which is attached the lower end of a cord 5.

ABSALOM CALHOUN ULMER, OF PASCAGOULA, MISSISSIPPI.

LIFE-PRESERVER FOR AVIATORS.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented J an. 31, 1911.

Application filed. September 14, 1910. Serial No. 582,078.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ABsALoM C. ULMER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pascagoula, in the county of Jackson and State of Mississippi, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Life-Preservers for Aviators, of which the following is a. specification, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings.

This invention is an improved life preserver for use by aviators in the event of accidents in or to a. flying machine, the object of the invention being to provide an improved device of this character including a parachute which is normally disposed entirely out of the way and unobserved and which will in the event of an accident to the flying machine automatically open and operconsisting in the construction, combination and arrangement of devices hereinafter described and'claiined.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 isan elevation of my improved life preserver showing the same in use; andFig. 2. is a similar-"view of the same showing the life preserver disposed compactly out of the way. I

In accordance with my invention I provide a belt 1 or other sustaining device which is buckled around the body of the aviator and is provided with shoulder straps 2. The buckle 3 is here shown on the front side of the belt and on the rear side thereof is an attaching device, here shown as a ring 4, to

The upper end of the cord is attached to the upper side of a cap or other head covering here indicated at 6, and on the top of the cap is a pouch 7 which can be folded against and on the same and is pr ferably made of the same material as the cap so as to render the same inconspicuous. The apex of a pa'rachute 8 is attached to the cord 5 at the point where the latter is attached to the cap orhead covering'and the parachute is so constructed that the samemay be readily folded fcompactly and disposed in a very small space. The stay cords 9 which are attached to the outer edgcof the parachute are connected to the cord 5 at a point a suitable distance from the lower end thereof. To the said cord 5, which passes through the chute and is connected to the same is attached an inflator 10 which is preferably made of flexible material such as silk fabric and is tubular in form with its upper and lower ends open and'is provided at its lower end with a metallic ring 11 or other suitable device which distends the lower end of the said inflator and keeps the same open. The

parachute, which is also made preferably of silk or other very light. flexible and strong fabric, is adapted to be folded and disposed in the pouch 6 on the cap. Thus disposed the parachute is entirely concealed and out of the way on the cap of the aviator and is connected to the belt 1 by the cord 5.

In the event of an accident to. the flying machine such as will endanger the descent thereof, the aviator leaps therefrom and at the same time removes his cap. This causes the parachute with its casing 10 to be released from the pouch (5 and owing to the fact that the lower end of the inflator 10 is kept open by the ring 11 the resistance at the air will cause the parachute to open upwardly and be withdrawn out of the pouch 6 and serve to regulate the descent of the aviator so that he may land in safety.

The opening of the parachute is greatly facilitated by the inflator, which, being always open at the lower end,causes an air blast to be forced into the parachute as soon as the latter leavcs'the pouch, so that at the initial instant of leaving the pouch, the parachute becomes inflated and efl'ective.

While I have herein shown a preferred embodiment of my invention I would have it understoodthat modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention and within' the scope of the 2: v v i 982,907

nected to the head covering and to' said its upper and lower ends and being provided 10 cord, said parachute being foldable into the at its lower end With means to keep the same pouch. distended, for the purpose set forth.

2. 1n apparatus of the class described, the I In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix m'y combination of a head covering", a supportsignature in the presence of two Witnesses. ing device. a cordconnecting the supporting ABSALOM CALHOUN ULMER. device and the head covering, a parachute :Witnesses: 7 connected to the said cord and an inflator H. HARDING,

on said cord, the said inflator being open at E. A. CoLLE 

